Comparison of Dry Mouth in Women Treated with Extended-Release Formulations of Oxybutynin or Tolterodine for Overactive Bladder

Abstract

The incidence, severity and tolerability of dry mouth was compared in 790 women with overactive bladder who were treated with extended-release oxybutynin chloride 10 mg/day or extended-release tolterodine tartrate 4 mg/day for 12 weeks in a multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study. Dry mouth was the most common adverse event associated with treatment, with an incidence rate of 28.1% in the oxybutynin group and 21.6% in the tolterodine group (P = 0.039). The majority of dry mouth events were mild in both treatment groups. Severe dry mouth occurred in 1.5% and 0.5% of patients in the oxybutynin and tolterodine groups, respectively (P = 0.173). Seven patients on extended-release oxybutynin and 4 patients on extended-release tolterodine discontinued treatment due to dry mouth (P = 0.380). The results of this analysis showed that dry mouth was common with both treatments, but most events were mild; there was no difference in the rate of severe dry mouth or in the rate of withdrawal due to dry mouth.